hollow ice cubes

rob711

Petty Officer 1st Class
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May 31, 2007
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232
ive gotten lots of good advice and opinions on here so here it goes...my house freezer has a icemaker..almost all of the cubes are hollow..or they don't have tops..like small ice containers...is it not cold enough...its set just above the middle setting..any ideas
 

QuadManiac

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Jul 2, 2007
Messages
391
Re: hollow ice cubes

Most icemakers eject cubes as a function of the temperature in the aluminum icemaker body or, in some units, by time elapsed after the water has been loaded. They usually have a small lever, somewhere on the maker's body that allows you to adjust that temp or time to allow the cubes to fully form.

Good Luck!
 

mikecjn

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Jun 8, 2003
Messages
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Re: hollow ice cubes

Had the same problem with mine.
Turned out I had to change the water line tap where it went into the cold water pipe under my sink. I had originally used one of the screw in types that punctures the copper pipe and feeds the water line. I had to take that one out and put in one where you drill out the pipe and put the coupler on. The screw in type wasn't allowing enough water in in the time it takes for the temp sensor to read.
 
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kmurray802

Seaman
Joined
Jun 15, 2007
Messages
61
Re: hollow ice cubes

Your on the right track,About 90% of the time when cubes are not completely formed it's due to lack of water.Usually from clogged water filter.If you have good water then you may need to run some ice machine cleaner thru it to remove scale.
If you run cleaner thru it you MUST throw away the first couple of batches or the ice will make you sick if used in drink.
 

BoatBuoy

Rear Admiral
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May 29, 2004
Messages
4,856
Re: hollow ice cubes

An old plummer told me one time to always tap the hot water for the ice maker. Most of the water has already cooled in the line by the time it gets to the icemaker, and you get the advantage of whatever sediment is in the water, settles out in the water heater, i.e. it's cleaner.
 

MikDee

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Jun 6, 2007
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4,745
Re: hollow ice cubes

I kinda doubt that, as a Steamfitter I was taught that hot water leeches (draws) out the lead in the solder, (and an average water filter won't take it out!) if you're sure lead free solder was used it maybe ok, but personally I wouldn't do it, who know's whatever else is in the hot water, it may leech out the impurities in the copper also.
 

kmurray802

Seaman
Joined
Jun 15, 2007
Messages
61
Re: hollow ice cubes

Ya I agree with Mik,don't use the hot water side.You should install a water filter if you don't already have one.I prefer the type that has a replaceable canister(like an Everpure)They cost a little more on the initial purchase then the small tube type but the filters last longer and supply better water.And there easier to change when needed.
 

SS MAYFLOAT

Admiral
Joined
May 17, 2001
Messages
6,372
Re: hollow ice cubes

Some units have a hose bib on the back where the water line enters a solenoid. Behind that fitting going into the solenoid is sometimes a screen. If that screen gets clogged up, your ice production goes down thus creating your holy ice. That would be the first place I would check. The line tap that was mentioned earlier could also be the problem. If the hole is clogging up at that point, a simply turning on and off that valve a couple of times can clear the clog. However, I would disconnect the line before it enters the freezer as the debris can go on into your ice maker if you don't have an inline filter.

I work on lots of commercial ice machines and not any of the manufactures say to use hot water. They also suggest not using soft water as well.
 

rob711

Petty Officer 1st Class
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May 31, 2007
Messages
232
Re: hollow ice cubes

i have the type of valve that pierced the pipe...saddle valve? any way it was barley on...so i opeded it a bit more and now i've got solid ice cubes....they keep the beers colder!! thanks every one
 

mattttt25

Commander
Joined
Sep 29, 2002
Messages
2,661
Re: hollow ice cubes

wouldn't hallow cubes cool a drink faster? more surface area of ice contacting with beverage? i think you had a good problem there, reverse what you did! :)
 

MikDee

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Jun 6, 2007
Messages
4,745
Re: hollow ice cubes

wouldn't hallow cubes cool a drink faster? more surface area of ice contacting with beverage? i think you had a good problem there, reverse what you did! :)

LOL, That's exactly what I was thinking!
 
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